Toothbrushes



Nov. 27, 1962 3,065,479

J. E. M GEE TOOTHBRUSHES Filed Jan. 19, 1962 JOSEPH E. MEGE E .ORNEY 3,%5,479 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3,065,479 TQOTHBRUSHES Joseph E. McGee, Thomaston, Ga. Filed Jan. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 167,344 8 Claims. (iCl. 15-167) This invention relates to a toothbrush and particularly to a toothbrush having a fixed brush structure in which some of the teeth are confined during cleaning and a movable brush structure movably attached to the fixed brush structure and in which other teeth are confined during cleaning.

The teeth in the mouth may be generally described as front teeth and back teeth although dentists have more scientific identification. Generally the front teeth are those which are thinner and sharper in arrangement and show through the front of the mouth while the back teeth or jaw teeth are those larger, heavier chewing teeth. The brushing of both the front and the rear teeth is performed with a single brush in smooth, rhythmic motions with more or less simultaneous brushing of the teeth. The ordinary or conventional toothbrush with single rows of bristle extending outwardly therefrom is not easily manipulated in the mouth in such a manner as to brush the insides of the back teeth or the insides of the front teeth or to simultaneously clean the teeth with suflicient pressure to remove food particles and the like. While various efforts have been made in the prior art to construct unitary brush devices which encompass the teeth in some manner, these devices have not been properly designed to provide simultaneous operation in a smooth and rhythmic motion required when a person brushes his teeth during the day.

In its clearest form, without regard to scope of my invention contained in the appended claims, my toothbrush is 'a unitary device with a handle resembling those found in ordinary toothbrushes. At the front end of the handle there is fixed therewith a set of brushes which are confined in a groove in the end of the brush in which the teeth are confined. The groove is created by a pair of downwardly extending, confronting plates in which there are confronting rows of brushes and depending from the top of the groove is a downwardly depending row of brushes adapted to contact the tops of the teeth with the inner confronting brushes contacting the sides thereof. The front end of the brush terminates intermediate the length of the handle and leaves a space in which is mounted a movable brush element attached to the handle by means of a non-corrosive spring steel or similar device extending through a passageway formed as a cavity extending upwardly through a portion of the front end channel. The movable brush comprises a pair of downwardly depending and inwardly confronting plates having rows of brushes facing each other across the channel which is in alignment with the channel in the front end of the brush. The rear end of the rear brush element curves slightly and the rows of the brushes at that point and the brushes are arranged to fit the taper of the front teeth as Well as the back teeth. A provision is made to support the brush higher up from the teeth at the back teeth which are usually very short.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a toothbrush which has a fixed brush arrangement for brushing the back or jaw teeth and a movable brush arrangement for brushing the front teeth in one simultaneous and rhythmic motion.

Another object of this invention resides in the arrangement of a fixed brush element having a groove in which the teeth are confined and brushed from both the sides and the top and having a movable brush element which tracks or follows the fixed brush element and contacts the other teeth in a resilient manner.

Also, an object of this invention is the provision of a resiliently mounted brush element which is curved and arranged with brushes in such a manner as to follow the natural curvature of the teeth in combination with a fixed brush element which leads the movable brush against the teeth.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent upon reading the following s ecirication taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush made in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 1 inverted from the position therein and with a portion of the handle removed therefrom.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken centrally and longitudinally of the brush shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the brush shown in FIG. 1 and with a portion of the handle removed.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 6-6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 7-7 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a diagramatic top plan view of the brush of FIG. 1 positioned on the lower teeth as when first positioned in the mouth.

FIG. 9 is a diagramatic view similar to that shown in FIG. 8 and with the brush pulled forward on the teeth for the movable brushing element to contact the front teeth.

The brush shown generally at reference number 10 in FIG. 1 comprises an elongated handle member 12 resembling toothbrush handles of conventional toothbrushes and which may be constructed from any suitable plastic, nylon, or other material conventionally used in toothbrushes.

The front end 14 of the toothbrush 10 has a fixed brushing element thereat which is used normally for brushing the rear or jaw teeth and which comprises a pair of depending and inner confronting plate members 16, 18 defining an open groove or channel 20 leading from the open front end of toothbrush 10. The interior and confronting faces of plates 16, 18 taper downwardly and outwardly as readily seen in both FIGS. 1 and 2 and a set of two rows of toothbrushes 22 are arranged and positioned and embedded in the inner faces of the elements 16, 18 to extend substantially perpendicular therefrom, thereby defining a slanted or tapered relationship providing closer space between the brushes at the bottom of channel 20 than at the top thereof to conform with the normal and conventional shape of the rear or jaw teeth. Extending from the top of the front element 14 and extending downwardly therefrom substantially in the center and between the facing rows of brushes 22 is a singular row of brushes 24 which are long enough sufiiciently to contact and exert pressure against the tops of the jaw teeth when the brush is in place and when the brushes 22 on plate 16, 18 contact the outside of the teeth.

In an open space behind the ends of plate 16, 18 there is positioned for movement on the handle 12 and with respect to the front portion'14 a movable front tooth brushing element 26 comprising a top portion 28 with a pair of downwardly depending and inner confronting side members 30, 32 all together defining an open channel member leading from front element 14 and having an open channel 34 therein through which the teeth may pass. Embedded in or otherwise suitably attached to the element 26 is a non-corrosive leaf spring 38, which may be constructed from stainless steel or the like, and having the other end thereof embedded in or otherwise attached to the front brush and fixed portion 14 whereby aoeaava '1 Q the element 26 is maintained in alignment, with the front element 14 and groove 34 is capable of alignment with groove in normal position of the brush but whereby the element 26 maybe moved through the resilient action of spring 38.

As in the manner of the formation of the front element 14, the inner confronting faces of plates 30, 32 have three rows of brushes 4% thereon arranged substantially perpendicular to their respective faces of the inner faces of plates 30, 32 and confronting each other across the open space formed in the groove 3d. The rear ends, respectively, 42 and 44 of the plates 30, 32 curve outwardly and also taper outwardly in the manner shown clearly in FIG. 7 whereby the three rows of brushes 40 respectfully embedded therein define a tapered opening clearly shown in FIG. 7 to conform with the shape of the teeth.

The underside of the fixed element 14 has a V-shaped cavity 48 formed therein, as clearly seen in the dotted lines of FIG. 4 and leading downwardly into the brushes 22, 24 and specifically into the brushes 24 is a weep hole 50 through which fluids may pass freely and which may be used in rinsing or washing the brush.

The brushes 22, 24 in the front arrangement 14 may be referred to as the fixed or jaw or rear teeth brush since their primary function is to cleanse these teeth. The movable arrangement 26 flexibly and resiliently attached by spring 38 may be referred to as the front teeth brush for this is its primary function. The brush element 26 will follow or track with the front brush arrangement 14 in response to the motion imparted through handle 12 by the person brushing his teeth.

In the operation of the device 11), the person inserts the brush in the mouth over the jaw teeth in the manner shown in FIG. 8 and then pulls the brushes 49 downwardly against the front teeth to insert the movable brush element thereon. It is quite easy to do this because the spring 38 allows flexibility and ready manipulation of the device by the hand to insert it on the teeth. The clearance between the fixed element 14 and the movable element 26 can be very slight and only enough to allow motion therebetween within the limits of economical manufacture.

From the position shown in FIG. 8 the brush handle 12 is manipulated by the operator to bring the fixed element 14 and its brushes 22, 24 forwardly around the curvature of the teeth and the pressure through spring 38 and by the handle 12 on top of the movable element 26 on its top 28 causes the movable element 28 and its brushes 40 to track with the fixed element 14 and to move upon and cleanse the front teeth. The entire brush 10 can be manipulated quite easily by handle 12 without any awkward movements. It is to be noted that the bristle structure of the rear teeth or fixed element with its brushes 20, 22 contains only two rows of bristles because the rear teeth are shorter and thicker than the front teeth and for this reason the front tooth cleansing element 26 contains three rows of inner confronting brushes. This is variable but the arrangement shown and the drawings has been found to be satisfactory and to provide one suitable arrangement of brush with a minimum amount of bristles and construction.

The outward curvature of plates 30, 32 at positions 42, 44 provides a flared and gradual opening which as readily seen in both FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 will adjust to the curvature when traveling from the back or jaw teeth 54 around the front teeth 56. The resiliency of the spring connection 38 between the movable brushes 26 and the fixed brushes at 14 causes the entire apparatus readily to be manuipulated and adjusted to the shape and slope of the teeth 54, 56 and one of the primary advantages of this device in the ease of movement without any particular awkwardness. The bristles of the brushes 22, 24, and 40, are resilient and compressible to some extent 2g, and will aid in the overall adjustment and manipulation of the device.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention together with suggested operation thereof this is not to be construed as any sort of limitation on the scope of my invention since various alterations, substitutions, changes, eliminations, deviations, and departures may be made from the embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a toothbrush of the class described:

(a) a toothbrush handle,

(b) a fixed brush arrangement on the front end of said handle having a channel therein,

(c) brushes extending inwardly across said channel, and said brushes together forming an open channel in which the jaw or back teeth are confined to contact said brushes during brushing,

(d) a movable brush arrangement on said handle having a channel therein,

(e) a flexible means connecting said movable brush element to said fixed brush element,

(1) said movable brush element channel being adapted to align with said fixed channel and to track therewith, V

(g) brushes in said channel in which the front teeth are confined as the brush moves thereacross to clean same,

(h) said fixed and movable brushes being positioned on and over the teeth on one side with the fixed brush primarily being positioned on and brushing the jaw teeth and the movable brush primarly being positioned on the front teeth and said movable brush arrangement following said fixed brush arrangement and tracking around the curvature of the teeth as the teeth are cleaned by said brushes.

2. The device in claim 1 wherein there is a cavity formed inwardly into said fixed brush arrangement and said cavity having a weep opening formed therein.

3. In a toothbrush of the class described:

(a) a toothbrush handle,

(b) a fixed brush arrangement on the front end of said handle having an open channel therein,

(0) brushes extending inwardly toward each other across said channel,

(a') other brushes on said fixed brush arrangement extending downwardly from the top of said fixed brush arrangement between said other brushes,

(e) said brushes together forming an open brush bristle channel in which the jaw or back teeth are confined to contact said brushes during brushing,

(f) a movable brush arrangement on said handle,

(g) A flexible connector connecting said movable brush element to said brush element,

(h) said movable brush element having an open channel therein,

(i) rows of brushes extending toward each other across said channel forming a brush bristle channel therebetween in which the front teeth are confined as the brush moves thereacross to clean same,

(j) said fixed and movable brushes being positioned on and over the teeth on one side with the fixed brushes being positioned on and brushing the jaw teeth and the movable brush being positioned on the front teeth; and said movable brush arrangement following said fixed brush arrangement and tracking around the curvature of the teeth as the teeth are cleaned by said brushes.

4. In a toothbrush of the class described:

(a) a toothbrush handle,

(b) a fixed brush arrangement on the front end of said handle,

(c) opposed brushes on said brush fixed arrangement, said brushes together forming an open channel in which the jaw or back teeth are contacted by said brushes during brushing,

(d) a movable brush arrangement on said handle,

(e) means movably connecting said movable brush element to said fixed brush element,

(f) said movable brush element comprising rows of opposed brushes extending toward each other forming a channel therebetween in which the front teeth are contacted as the brush moves thereacross to clean same,

(g) said fixed and movable brushes being positioned on the teeth on one side with the fixed brush being primarily positioned on and brushing the jaw teeth and the movable brush being primarily positioned onthe front teeth; and said movable brush arrangement following said fixed brush arrangement and tracking around the curvature of the teeth as the teeth are cleaned by said brushes.

5. In a toothbrush of the class described,

(a) a handle,

([2) a fixed brush arrangement on the front end of said handle having a channel therein,

(c) brushes extending inwardly in said channel toward each other,

(d) said brushes together forming an open and resilient bristle channel in which the jaw or back teeth are contacted by said brushes during brushing,

(e) a movable brush arrangement on said handle,

(1) a flexible spring connecting said movable brush element to and behind said fixed brush element,

(g) said movable brush element comprising an open brush channel,

(11) rows of brushes on said brush channel extending toward each other forming a resilient bristle channel therebetween in which the front teeth are contacted as the brush moves thereacross to clean same,

(i) said fixed and movable brushes being positioned on and over the teeth on one side with the fixed brush being positioned on and brushing the jaw teeth and the movable brush being positioned on the front teeth; and said movable brush arrangement following said fixed brush arrangement and tracking around the curvature of the teeth as the teeth are cleaned by said brushes.

6. In a toothbrush of the class described:

(a) a handle,

(b) a fixed brush arrangement on the front end of said handle,

() brushes on said fixed brush arrangement,

(d) said brushes together forming an open channel in which the jaw or back teeth are confined to contact said brushes during brushing,

(e) a movable brush arrangement on said handle,

(1) a flexible means connecting said movable brush element to said fixed brush element,

(g) said movable brush element having a brush channel curving at the rearward ends thereof to form an enlargement in said channel,

(It) brushes in said channel extending toward each other forming a brush bristle channel therebetween in which the front teeth are confined as the brush moves thereacross to clean same,

(i) said fixed and movable brushes being positioned on and over the teeth on one side with the fixed brush being positioned on and brushing the jaw teeth and the movable brush being positioned on the front teeth; and said movable brush arrangement following said fixed brush arrangement and tracking around the curvature of the teeth as the teeth are cleaned by said brushes.

7. The device in claim 6 wherein there is a cavity between said fixed and said movable brushes, and a weep hole in said cavity.

8. In a toothbrush of the class described:

(a) a toothbrush handle,

(b) a fixed brush arrangement on the front end of said handle comprising a pair of downwardly depending plates having inner confronting faces angularly spaced with respect to each other,

(0) brushes extending inwardly substantially perpendicular to said respective inner faces and extending toward each other,

(d) other brushes on said fixed brush arrangement extending outwardly from the top of said fixed brush arrangement substantially medially between said other brushes,

(e) said brushes together forming an open channel in which the jaw or back teeth are confined to contact said brushes during brushing,

(f) a movable brush arrangement on said handle,

(g) a flexible spring connecting said movable brush element to said fixed brush element,

(h) said movable brush element comprising a pair of downwardly depending plates having an open channel therebetween and curving at the rearward ends thereof to form an enlargement in said channel,

(1) rows of brushes on each of the inner confronting faces of said downwardly depending plates and extending toward each other forming a channel therebetween in which the front teeth are confined as the brush moves thereacross to clean same,

(i) a cavity formed inwardly into said fixed brush arrangement and said cavity having a weep opening formed therein,

(k) said fixed and movable brushes being positioned on and over the teeth on one side with the fixed brush being positioned on and brushing the jaw teeth and the movable brush being positioned on the front teeth and said movable brush arrangement following said fixed brush arrangement and tracking around the curvature of the teeth as the teeth are clean d by said brushes.

No references cited, 

